Extension axle



Oct. 27, 1925. 1,559,368

c. M. PooLE v EXTENSION AXLE Filed April 27, 1925 mmummmww:

Patented Qet. 27, 1925.

i v issasss ,UNITED'STATESI PATENT' OFF-we VHARLES M. PooLE, or WAGO,TEXAS, 'AssIqNoRQBY MESNE AssiGNiviEN'rs, 'ro TEXAS V LA eRossE oonrAN/aooR-ro'a'A'rIoN.

' Ex'rENsIoN AXLE;

[ Application file d April 27, 1925.- SerialNo'. 26,214.

'1 '0 'all whom it may cancer/n: V w

, Be it known that I, CHARLEs M; PooLE, a citlzen of the UnitedStates,'residing-at lVaco, `in the countyJof McLenna-n and State ofTexas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in ExtensionAX- les; and I do hereby declare the following to 'be a full, clear, andexact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilledin the art to which it appert-ains to make and use the same. v

The present invention relates to extension axles, and has for anl objectto provide a simple, strong and inexpensive attachment forti'actor andother 'axles whereby, without requiring any: alteration in the presentaxle structure, the tread of the wheelsmay be spread to a variety ofdegrees.

TheV device will'be found particularly useful in connection withtractors for drawing the agrieultural implements where the crop rows areplacedfat variousl widthsn The standard tread of a. tractor does notpermit of its use for cultivating purposes or in the South where theland is listed.v

The further Vpurpose of the invention/is to provide for wideningthe'normal tractor tread to admit of its straddling two rows therebyextending its use on the 'farm greatly. f V fWith the foregoing andotherobjects in view, the invention will be, more fullydescribedhereinafteiy-and will be 'more'partic'ula-rly pointed out in' the claimsappended hereto. l v

In the drawings, whereinv like symbols refer to like or correspondingparts throughout the several views,`

Figure 1 is a front view offva traetor shown with the improvedextensionaxle. J Figure 2 is a plan view of axle wheels and steering device withthe improvement embodied therein.

Figure 3 is a front view on an enlarged,

scale, and with parts broken away of the Improved extension attachment.

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the same,

and

Figure 5 is a longitudinal section taken through a portion` of thesteering attachment.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 6 designates a. tractor ofthe Fordson or other type having the front axle 7 and the wheels 8 and9. The steering knuckles are indicated. Vat :10, and the`pivot boltsllron which the'wheels turn in the act of steering the device.

In accordance with the invention, the wheels 81 and 9 are spread aparta. distance greater than that of the normal trea'd of the tractor.`V'Normally, the pivot bolts 11.pass

through the vend bushings 12 of the axle 7. In this; case, however, thepivot bolts are passed through the vertica-lly alined openings 13 and 14in the outer `end of the eX- tension axle attachment, which comprisestheupper and lower legsl and 16, pref- -erably made in one'piece of flatbar metal united, at the yoke end 17 where the legs' are brought closertogether to relnforc'eand strengthen the construction and4 to admit ofbeing placed in the socket in the steering knuckle' of the wheel; Theinner more widely spaced portions of the vlegs 15 and 16 areso arrangedas to fit upon the upper and lower faces of the axle 7. A bolt18-isarrangedito pass through the legs 15.

and'V 16 and through the outer Vaxle bushing 12.1 The shankof theibolt18 may or may not have the sleeve bushing 19 as shown in Figure 3. ,Incase this sleeve bushing is used, it is adapted to fit down within theaxle bushing 12.V vIntermediate their ends, thel legs' are-'providedwith 'diagonal portions 20 and 21 joining the more'widely sep'- V aratedinner portions with the c-losely spacecl outer portions. The diagonalportions con- -verge from the axle bus'hing 12, and these -diagonalportions serve to'absorb the stra'ins transmitted longitudinally throughthe axle attachment. The innermost ends of the legs 15 and 16 areprovided with o-ppositely extending flanges 22'and 23 provided withperforations to receive thev bolts 24 and 25, which straddle the axle 7.The threebo1ts 18, 24 and 25 forma triangular structure for reinforcingthe axle against Vertical strains, and also against horizontally actingstra'ins tending to rotate the extension attachment about the bolt 18.

As shown in Figure 4, aseries of openings 26 are made in theintermediate portion of the legs for selectively receiving the centerbolt 18 whereby the tread of the wheels may be adjusted as desired.

From the nature and construction of the extension axle it will be seenthat when the extension is secured in place atV the end of 1 fiat)steering connections.

will be permitted between the end of the main axle and the Wheel supportat the end of the extension more or less Vertical vibration, suchVertical vibration being` largely oaused by the explosions in thecylnders of the engine, but to some extent by the nature of the groundover which the tractor may be inoving. It has been observed that Wherean aXle extends rigidly straightthrough, and especially Where a rigidextension to a main axle is rigidlyl secured to the main mile,` suchvibration.I exerts a very un'favorable effect on the life of the axle,or on the exte-nsion. Byv so constructing the extension axle as. topermit of vibration. vertically therein, even though the extension berigidly connected to the main axle, the unfortunate results of theinevitable vibration caused as explained are very largely overcoine, andthe life ofz the device very much prol'onged.

The steering apparatus is also arranged to beadjustable Vby'theprovision of a tubular tie rod 27 having enlarged ends provided With setscrews 28 forl reeeiving'the bars 29v and 30 forming parts of the usualThe bars 29 and 30 may be adjusted in andout theiextension tie rod 27.The set screWs 28 Will hold the bars in the adjusted'position and permitof transmission of the steeringl motion from the link 31 or boltknuckles of the front Wheels 8 land 9.

The device constitutes merely an attachment, and. in no Way disturbs thepresent construction, and it does not affect the turning. radius of thetractor. The extension axles bolt firinly to the regular axl'e` and wheninstalled` they become a part of such regular. axle. The device may bemade in any si zes, and out of any appropriate material.

It is obvious that various changes and modifications may be made in thedetails of construction and design of the above specifically describedembodiment of'this inreeasee vention Without departing from the spiritthereof, such changes and Inodilications heing restricted only by thescope of the following claims.

liVhat is claimed is:

1. An extension axle for attachment to the usual motor Vehicle axlehaving a coupling eye at its end comprising a pair of legs foradjustably fitting against the upper and loWer sides of said usual axlc,means for clamping the inner ends of the legs against the axle' When thelegs, are adjusted, and looking means engageablc With said coupling eyeof said axle and adjustably engaging both legs of'the pair for securingthe lege in adjusted position, said legs projecting beyond the end of.said usual aXle and having a eoupling eye thereinV corresponding to thecoupling eye of said usual axle.

2. An extension aXle for attachinent to the usual motor Vehicle axlehaving` a coupling eyevat its end, comprising a fiat bar returned uponitself to provide a pair of fiat legs for adjuSta-ble engageinentagainst the opposite sides of saidusual a-xle and havingedgewiseenlargeinents at their free ends, clamping bolts carried-through saidenlargements for drawing the legs toward; each 'other and clamping themupon said. usual axle, the interinediate portions of said legs havingseries of registering openings therethrough adapted to register-1 onepair at a time with saida coupling eye of the usual axle, and a. bolt for removable insertion in the selected openings of the legs a nd throughsaid coupling-eeto anchor theplegs from swinging on said usual-axle, theintermediate portions off'said legs-converging` toward each otheroutwardly from the series of'openingrs a nd the outer ends oftherlegshaving spindle receiving openings therein adjacent to the out- Wardportionof the fiat bar for attachment of'- the'vehicle Wheel.

CHAS, M 'POOE

